Rolling-mill.



J. R. GEORGE.

ROLLING MILL.

APPLICATION IILBD JUNI: 3, 1903.

966,089. Patented Aug. 2, 191.0

J. R. GEORGE.

ROLLING MILL. APPLIUATION FILED JUNE s, 19a.

966,089. Patented Aug. 2, 1910.

3 SHEETS-SHEETS.

Affrngy.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JEROME R. GEORGE, OF -WORCESTER, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO MORGAN CON#STRUCTION COMPANY, OF WORCESTER, MASSACHUSETTS, CORPORATION 0FMASSACHUSETTS.

ROLLING-MILL.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 2, 1910.

To all 'wwm it may concern:-

Be it known that I, JEROME R. GEORGE, a citizen of the United States,residing at lVorcester, in the county of `Worcester and Commonwealth ofMassachusetts, have invented a new and useful Improvement inRolling-Mills, of which the following is a specification, vaccompaniedby drawings forming a part of the same, in which- Figure 1 ,is a planview of a rolling mill showing the rolls of a roughingmil through whichan ingot is first passed when taken from the furnace, and also afinishing mill, embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a front view of therolls of the finishing mill. Fig. 3 is a side view of one of the pairsof rolls of the finishing mill with its supporting housing. Fig. Llis adetail in sectional view of one of the rolls of the finishing mill withits lower journal bearing, Fig. 5 represents a modified constructionwhereby different .pairs of rolls are interchangeable, and Fig.

6 is a plan View of several pairs of inter changeable rolls arranged forthe successive reduction of a rod. Figs. .7 and 8 are front and sideviews respectively on an enlarged scale, showing the guides for the rodbe-v tween adjacent pairs of rolls and the removable supporting plates41 between the guides. Y

Similar letters and figures of reference refer to similar parts in thedifferentiviews. Myy present invention relates to certain improvementsin' rolling mills, and particularly to that class of rolling mills knownas finishing mills, in which the final reduction of` a rod or bar isaccomplished, and it has for its objects to increase the efficiency andconvenience of this class of mills, and it con sists in the constructionand arrangement of parts as hereinafter described and pointed out in theannexed claims.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, A denotes a portion of a heatingfurnace, having a delivery opening B in position to deliver a heatedingot'to the series of rolls C, C, forming what is known as a roughingmill, adapted to the initial reduction of an ingot to a `rod or bar,suitable-to be delivered to the rolls of a finishing mill for its iinalreduction to a desired size in cross s'ection. The successive pairs ofrolls C, C, are rotated at varying speeds by means of their'v a couplingsleeve connection with a common driving shaft D, through a series ofbevel gears E, El. As a rod is delivered from the last pair of rolls inthe roughing mill, it is directed by a guide F to the rolls of afinishing mill G, embodying my invention, and comprising in the presentinstance live pairs of rolls, 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5, adapted to thecontinuous reduction of a rod, by a series of consecutive grooves orpasses. Each of the rolls of the finishing mill like the rolls 'C of theroughing mill, are provided with two grooves or passes for thesimultaneous reduction of two rods or bars, but the number of passes canbe varied as desired. Each pair of rolls in the finishing mill isjournaled in housings and supported by an upright post or frameworkwhich are the duplicates of each other, so that a description of onewill serve as a description for all.

Referring to Fig. 3, 6 denotes an upright framework, supported upon asuitable base 7, in a pit or other substructure beneath a floor 8,having its upper surface 9 slightly inclined to form al water shedleading to a sunken trough or conduit 10.

Secured tov the frame (i, and at a suitable .distance above the floor`-8for thevconvenience of the operator standing thereon, is

ra roll housing 11, provided with bearings for a pairv of rolls 12 and13, having vertical axes and circumferential grooves or passes, 14 and15, one above the other, into which the rod is conducted by guides 16and 17, which are supported on a plate 18, attached to the housing 11.The upper gudgeon of the roll 13, yextends above the housingand isconnected by a coupling sleeve 19, such as is usually employed inrolling mills, to a vertical shaft 20, to which rotary motion isimparted by an electric motor 21, which is supported upon the uprightframe 6. The lower gudgeon of the roll 12 extends below the housing andis similarly connected by 22, to a vertical shaft23, rotated by anelectric motor 24, which is supported by the upright frame 6, below thefloor 8. The shaft '23, where it passes through thefloor 8, is inclosedby a tube 25, which projects above the -fioor and forms a dam 26, toprevent Water from fiowmg from the floor Yaround the shaft 23, and theopen ing through the tube 25 is closed at 1ts upper end by a collar 27,provided with a flange Q8, having a downwardly turned edge 29,overlapping the upper end of the tu-be Q5.

The coupling sleeves 19 and 2Q, are of the usual construction, and arecapable of vertically sliding onthe shafts Q0 and Q3, with which theyhave the usual toothed or splined connection with a similar connectionwith the gudgeons of the rolls, the ends of which are provided withrecesses as shown at 30, Fig. i, to receive corresponding interiorprojections in the sleeves. The sleeve 19 is normally held in engagementwith the gudgeon of roll 13 by gravity, allowing the roll to bedisconnected at will by simply raising the sleeve 19 on the shaft Q0.The sleeve 22 is held in its operative position by interposing a coupleof wooden bars 31, 3l, between the sleeve 2Q and the collar 27, saidbars being held in place by a strap The lower journal bearings of eachof the rolls 12 and 13 are protected from water by extending the bushing33 above the housing 11, and entering the upper end of the bushing in arecess 34, in the lower end of the roll, said recess forming an annularlip 35 which overlaps the bushing 233. The shaft and couplingconnections of the rolls between the housing 11 vand the floor S, areprotected by guard plates 3G, only one being shown in Fig. 2. The guardplates are hinged at 37 near the floor 8, and with their upper edgesresting against a bracket 3S, attachedto the housing l1, and when accessis desired to the lower coupling, the guard plates are lowered upon thefloor, as shown by the broken line 39.

Each of the electric'motors in the mill are electrically connected inthe usual manner with a dynamo 40, on the main driving shaft D, with thespeed of the individual motors regulated to impart the proper speed tothe rolls to suit the reduction of the rod, with the speed of the dynamoconstant and corresponding with that of the main shaft D, from which therolls C, C, of the roughing mill, are driven. Any variation, therefore,in the speed of the main shaft D, will not ailect the relative speed ofthe rolls in the roughing mill, with the rolls of the finishing mill.rl`he lower guides 17 and the lower roll housings serve as shelves forthe support of removable plates 41, two of which are shown by brokenlines in Fig. 2, in connection with the pair of rolls 5. The plates 4lare placed in the position shown in Fig. 2, whenever any interruptionoccurs in the passage of a rod through the rolls, forming what is knownas a `Cobble, thereby enabling such a rod to be manipulated by theoperator, while supported on a plate 4l, and the rod in the uppergrooves 14 is prevented from falling into contact. with the rod below,in the groove-i l5, and each of the rods may be thus supported whenevernecessary for the adjustment of guides or for other purposes, and whennot needed the plates 41 may be readily removed.

It is customaryl in rolling mills to prevent the overheating of therolls by their contact with the heated metal by a current of waterdirected against the rolls, which Washes away much of the scaleliberated from the heated metal. By the employment of vertical rollstheir upper journals are above and therefore entirely free from Contactwith the unclean water, and the lower journals are effectually closed tothe admission of water by the overlapping lip 35, and the lower motor21, is likewise protected by the flanged collar 2T and tubular dam 26,causing the entire flow of water over the rolls to be received upon theinclined surface 9 of the floor, and conducted away by the conduit 10.

In my improved rolling mill, the operator, from his position in front ofthe vertical .supporting frames 6, has free and equal access to eachpair of rolls, passing from one pair to another, for the propermanipulation of the rod; the adjustment of the guides; the inspectionand adjustment of the several journal bearings; the connection ordisconnection of the rolls with their respective vertical shafts bymeans of the sliding loosely fitting sleeve couplings, or for theinspection of the operation of each pair of rolls. The control of eachrod in its passage through the rolls is permitted by the supportingplates 41, which are easily inserted, as described, whenever theexigencies of the work requires, and their use does not conceal thepassing rods or the operative parts of the mill. As each roll in a pairis individually rotated at its proper s eed by its direct connectionwith the driving power, the use of pinions for connecting the rolls ineach pair 1s unnecessary, thereby avoiding the friction, noise andexcessive Wear incident to the transmission of power by gearing.Additional advantages are also obtained, due to the increase in thespeed of the rolls beyond the speed limit, possible when pinions areused, thereby enabling smaller rolls to be used, without reducing theproduct of the mill, and with the outlay of less power, and the use ofsmaller rolls is desirable especially in finishing mills, for thefurther reason that greater accuracy of dimension in cross section isthereby obtainable in the finished product. An independent adjustment ofthe rolls in each pair is rendered possible, and also a much greaterrange ofadjustment relatively to the connection with the motor, for thereason that longer intermediate shafts can be employed, by the use ofvertical instead of horizontal shafts, thereby reducing the angularityof the intermediate shaft for a given range of adjustment of the rollfrom its alinement with its motor.

In my improved mill a change can beA made inthe connections between anypair of rolls and their motors without stopping the remaining rolls inthe mill. IVhen the rolls in eachpair are driven independently by meansof bevel gears, as shown in the case of a roughing mill in Fig. 1, thework of each pair of rolls is divided between two pairs of gears insteadof one, as when the rolls are connected by pinions.

In Figs.v 5 and 6, I have shown a modification in which the uprightframework G, as shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3 is replaced by an upright post42, provided with a circular bearing 43, to receive a revolving turret44, upon which issupported housings 45 and 46 for two pairs of rolls 47and 48. The turrets are made in parts clamped on the posts by theclamping bolts 49. By a one haltI revolution of the turrets on theposts, one pair of rolls can be thrown out of action and the other pairbrought into action. If greater space is desired between the posts, orfor any reason it is not desirable to have the pairs of rolls ondiametrically opposite sides of the post, the roll housings can bearranged as shown at 50 and 51, Fig. 6, or 120o apart instead of 180o,with the turret divided into three parts with an interchangeable piece59, thereby allowing the housings 5() and 51 to change places.

While the construction shown in FigsD l, 2 and 3 possesses manyadvantages, especially in a finishing mill employed in the production ofwhat is known vas merchant iron and steel, by its incr xased facilitiesfor changing the pairs of rolls for ldifferent sizes of finishedproduct, the construction shown in Figs. 5 and G, I consider desirablelfor the reason that frequentchanges in the products in mills of thisclass`are necessary, and can be accomplished by the simple swinging of aturret on its supporting post.

What I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:M n

1. In a rolling mill, the combination with a series of airs of verticalrolls for the continuous reaction of a rod, of a su porting frameworkand horizontal shelf li e housings for each pair of rolls, with o neroll of each pair arranged nearer to Said framework than the other roll.

2. In a rolling mill, the combi-nation with a series of pairs ofvertical rolls for the continuous reduction of a rod, of a Supportingframework and horizontal shelf like housings for each pair of rolls,with the housings for all the pairs of rolls arranged upon the same sideof` the successive supporting frameworks. i l

3. In a rolling mill, the combinationwith a series of pairs vof verticalrolls for the continuous reduction of a rod, of a supporting frameworkand horizontal shelf like housings for each pair of rolls, with thehousings for all the pairs of rolls arranged upon the same side of thesuccessive supporting frameworks, and with one roll of each pair nearerto said framework than the other roll.

4. In a rolling mill, the combination with a series of pairs of verticalrolls having parallel axes for the continuous reduction of a rod, of asupporting framework and horizontal shelf like housings for each pair ofrolls, with a roll of each pair ar `anged nearer to said framework thanthe other roll, means supported by said framework above said housingsfor driving said nearer roll, and means below said housings for drivingsaid outer roll.

In a rolling mill, the combination of a.

series of vertical frameworks, roll housings supported by and extendinglaterally from said frameworks, a series of pairs of rolls journaled insaid housings and having their axes in a vertical plane, means forrotating said rolls, plates supported by said housings and rod guidessupported by said plates and extending late 'ally therefrom, and formingshelves for rod supporting plates.

6. In a rolling mill, the combination with a series of pairs of verticalrolls having parallel axes for the continuous reduction of a rod. ot' asupporting framework and horizontal shelf like housings for each pair ofrolls, with one roll in each pai' arranged nearer to said framework thanthe other roll, means for driving said nearer roll from above saidhousings, and means for driving said outer roll from below said housings7. In a rolling mill, the combination with roll housings and a pair ofrolls joiirnaled in said housings, of driving means below said housings,a cover below said housings for said driving means having an opening, ashaft arranged to connect one of said rolls and said driving meanspassing throu h said opening, a cylindrical member in sald openinginclosing said shaft and projecting above said cover, and a collarsurrounding said shaft and overlapping the upper end of said cylindricalmember.

8. In a rolling mill, the combination with roll housings and a pairof`rolls journaled in said housings, of driving means below saidhousings, a floor between said driving means and said housings having anopening, a shaft connecting one of said rolls and said driving meanspassing through said opening, a hollow member held in Vsaid openingsurrounding said shaft and projecting above said floor, and a cover forthe upper projecting end of said member around said shaft. f

9.- In a rolling mill, the combination with roll housings and a pair ofrolls journaled in said housings, of driving means below said housings,a cover between said driving means and said housings having an opening,

a shaft connecting' one of said rolls and said driving means passingthrough said opening, a dam in contact with said cover surrounding saidopening, and means surrounding said shaft for closing the upper end ofsaid dam.

10. In a rolling mill, the combination With a supporting framework, of aroll housing attached to said framework and projecting laterallytherefrom, a pair of rolls journaled in said housing, with their axes ina vertical plane, a Hoor beneath said housing, a driving shaft passingthrough said floor and operatively connected with one of said rolls, anda hinged guard plate Supported by said floor in front of said drivingvshaft.

l1. In a rolling mill, the combination with a series of vertical posts,horizontal roll supported on each post for each pass in said rolls, andremovable rod supporting plates below and between said guides andsupported by them, thereby preventing contact of the rods in the variousguides.

13. In a rolling mill, the combination with a vertical supportingframework, of roll housings for two independent pairs of rolls, saidhousings being connected and capable of being rotated around theirsupporting frame, whereby either of said pairs of rolls can be broughtinto operative position at will, substantially as described.

14. In a rolling mill, the combination of a vertical post having abearing for a rotating turret, a rotating turret, and roll hous ingscarried by said turret and extending laterally therefrom, whereby eitherof said housings can be brought into operative position, substantiallyas described.

l5. The combination with a vertical post having a bearing for a rotatingturret, of a turret made in parts, clamping bolts by which said partscan be clamped on said post, roll housings carried by said turret andextending laterally therefrom, substantially as described.

16. In a rolling mill, the combination with a series of pairs ofvertical rolls for the reduction of metal rods, each pair of rollsprovided with a plurality of passes in alinement throughout the seriesto receive said rods, removable means between said pairs of rolls forsupporting the rod in each pass, whereby possibility of the interferenceof ditferent rods is obviated.

17. In a rolling mill, the combination with a series of pairs ofvertical rolls for the reduction of metal rods, each pair of rollsprovided with a plurality of passes in alinement throughout the seriesto receive said rods, of guides for each pass in each pair of rolls` andremovable means for supporting said rods between the seif'eral guides.-

thereby preventing their interference.

Dated this 29th day of May, 1903.

JEROME R. GEORG E.

fitness-es IENELoPE (.'t'iMBnRnAoin RUFUS B. Fev/LER.

